Pellet sifting comparison

[somdpellethead]

Ok so call me OCD or whatever but I did a little personal study today . I posted a while back about Hamer pellets and what I thought were a high fines situation . Today was pretty cold with 32 as the daytime high so I spent some time in the garage. I made a sifting device out of a 4' ladder and some 1/4 " metal mesh attached on top and a catch bin at the bottom . Set it on my deep freezer and dumped pellets at the top and let em roll on down. My pelllets were 12 bags of Hamer Ultra premium and 12 bags of Old Dominion Ultra premium . Hamer claims <.5% fines and Old Dom claims <.5% fines . 480 lbs of Hamers = 13.125lbs fines which would be 2.7% of volume. 480 lbs of Old dominions =3.3lbs of fines which would be .69% of volume . I know I don't have laboratory but both pellet brands went through the exact same procedure. I purchased both pellets at the same price of $265 /ton. The fact is Old Dominion was very close to there claim of fine % but the Hamers were not even close. I did the math on cost impact and it seemed trivial but this test proved my perceived difference. When it gets really cold out Hamers are my choice but I seem to go through them faster than any other brand. Do the PFI ratings really mean anything ? Anyone done similar tests ?

 

[Lake Girl]

All things being equal at the mill, small exposures to moisture may account for the increase in fines. I have had some bags with more fines and a couple of tell-tale puffed up ones. No guarantee on the supply chain handling being equal from the mill to the retailer...

 

[Old Spartan]

I think the majority of pellet issues are sourced in the supply chain rather than the Mill.

UNLESS we can not believe the analysis printed on various bags.

In my short pellet experience it has become apparent that the biggest drawback to the pellet industry is a lack of uniformity despite published "standards". Of course I am aware that the source material will offer somewhat different burning characteristics. However the purpose of standards is to alleviate broad swings in performance. Until this industry can figure a method of handling that does not deteriorate product performance it will remain a step child of the heating industry.

 

[ScotL]

You're also using a larger mesh than fines are measured with. The standard is < 0.5% through a 1/8" mesh screen - and it's defined as "at the mill gate" (before they've been handled again).

 

[somdpellethead]

Oh ok 1/8 " screen would def have made a difference. Maybe what I was calling fines were really just very small pellets ! I likely won't do the test again it was a boredom thing lol.

 

[ScotL]

You're right, testing does get very boring and repetitive. The only solution I've found is to pay someone else to do it.